Tag: Europe

Adlerflug’s Mendocino Registers An Upset In Germany

Stall Salzburg's Mendocino (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}–Mill Marin {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}), whose previous career best was a runner-up finish behind Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in last November's G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern, initiated a pilot merry-go-round when Rene Piechulek was obliged to take the mount aboard the Sarah Steinberg trainee, but it was all smiles for the jockey as the 4-year-old colt upset illustrious opposition in a stellar renewal of Sunday's G1 152nd Wettstar.de Grosser Preis von Baden at Baden-Baden's Iffezheim venue. Piechulek had ridden last year's winner and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in each of his last seven runs and was also in the plate when Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) added to his G1 Deutsches Derby triumph in July's G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis at Munich. With punters making the 12-furlong test an effective match between the two elite-level winners, it was a masterclass in waiting tactics as the 69-10 outsider-of-four was delivered late by the rider to register a first black-type success of any kind.

Mendocino had garnered prizemoney in each of his nine prior runs, winning two, and arrived for his date with destiny off the back of a third in ParisLongchamp's May 12 G3 Prix d'Hedouville and a fifth in June's G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly last time. The eventual winner found comfort behind all three rivals and raced fourth, with his head in his chest, passing the judge first time. Inching closer as Torquator Tasso and Sammarco locked horns early and lit each other up off the home turn, he fanned widest of all to the stands' side rail in early straight and refused to yield once hitting the front with 100 metres remaining, holding the late rally of the former by a head in game fashion. Sammarco kept on to finish 1 1/4 lengths further adrift in third.

“I had a mega race, Mendocino switched off well at the back and showed tremendous speed at the end,” said Piechulek after claiming back-to-back victories in the contest. “The result is just awesome and everything worked out wonderfully.” Winning trainer Sarah Steinberg added, “He was coming back off a break, the competition was very strong and we would have been satisfied if Mendocino had finished in the first three. In the race, he was able to stay out of everything and pulled out big at the end. This is a very emotional moment for me. He's supposed to come home before we commit to anything, but of course the [G1 Prix de l'] Arc [de Triomphe] is a very likely destination.” Stall Salzburg's Hans-Gerd Wernicke, who also raced Night Magic (Ger) (Sholokhov {Ire}) to farm this contest in 2010, commented, “The break was worth it. We thought long and hard about running here and, ultimately, we made the right decision. Sarah Steinberg is not only first class as a person, but also a first-class trainer.”

“Unfortunately he had the worst race of all participants, he couldn't find any cover and was always galloping freely,” reflected Torquator Tasso's trainer Marcel Weiss. “It's not his ideal track, even though he'd won here before.” Frankie Dettori added, “There wasn't enough pace in the race and the ground wasn't soft enough either. I started working with a half mile to go, but the winner accelerated faster in the straight.” Gestut Auenquelle's Peter-Michael Endres continued, “It was anything but a good race for him, but that's horse racing. It could look different again in Paris and I've just booked Frankie for the Arc.”

Despite a first reversal in four starts, Peter Schiergen was satisfied with the performance of Sammarco, who looks bound for Cologne and the G1 Preis von Europa. “He attacked well, he ran a great race again today and we didn't disgrace ourselves,” the trainer said. “Sammarco always runs great and the Preis von Europa is an option.”

Mendocino, who becomes the eighth Group 1 winner for his ill-fated sire (by In The Wings {GB}), is the first elite-level scorer for the stakes-winning Mill Marin (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). Her first foal is G3 Grosser Preis der Landeshauptstadt Dusseldorf victrix Marshmallow (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) while her fourth is last year's Listed Junioren-Preis third Millionaire (Ger) (Adlerflug {GB}). The March-foaled chestnut's stakes-placed second dam Mill Guineas (Salse), who also produced Listed Prix Herod second Olvia (Ire) (Giant's Causeway), is kin to G2 Falmouth S. victrix Ronda (GB) (Bluebird) and stakes-winning G3 Prix de Conde runner-up Silver Gilt (GB) (Silver Hawk). Ronda, who is the dam of GIII Ack Ack H. scorer Istan (Gone West), is also a half-sister to the dam of G3 Prix du Calvados and G3 Ridgewood Pearl S. victrix Purr Along (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}), Listed Land O'Burns Fillies' S. winner Katawi (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the dual stakes-placed Lady Francesca (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}). Mendocino's fourth dam Memory Lane (Never Bend) won the G3 Princess Royal S. and is a full-sister to G1 Derby hero and leading sire Mill Reef (Never Bend). Mill Marin has a yearling colt by Gleneagles (Ire) to come.

Sunday, Baden-Baden, Germany
152ND WETTSTAR.DE GROSSER PREIS VON BADEN-G1, €200,000, Baden-Baden, 9-4, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:38.71, g/s.
1–MENDOCINO (GER), 132, c, 4, by Adlerflug (Ger)
1st Dam: Mill Marin (Ire) (SW-Swe, $148,712), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Mill Guineas, by Salse
3rd Dam: Memory's Gold, by Java Gold
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€58,000 RNA Ylg '19 BBAGS). O-Stall Salzburg; B-Gestut Brummerhof (GER); T-Sarah Steinberg; J-Rene Piechulek. €115,000. Lifetime Record: 10-3-2-1, €204,050. *Full to Millionaire (Ger), SP-Ger; and 1/2 to Marshmallow (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), GSW-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Torquator Tasso (Ger), 132, h, 5, Adlerflug (Ger)–Tijuana (Ger), by Toylsome (GB). (€24,000 Ylg '18 BBAGO). O-Gestut Auenquelle; B-Paul H Vandeberg (GER); T-Marcel Weiss. €44,000.
3–Sammarco (Ire), 125, c, 3, Camelot (GB)–Saloon Sold (Ger), by Soldier Hollow (GB). (€120,000 RNA Ylg '20 BBAGS). O/B-Gestut Park Wiedingen (IRE); T-Peter Schiergen. €23,000.
Margins: HD, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 6.90, 0.70, 2.20.
Also Ran: Alter Adler (Ger). Scratched: Ardakan (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Outstrip’s Tigrais Prevails in ParisLongchamp’s G3 Prix La Rochette

Sunday's mouthwatering feast of pattern-race action got going with ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix La Rochette and there was a surprise in store as last month's Deauville maiden winner Tigrais (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}–Maharana {Fr}, by Iffraaj {GB} swooped late to deny 'TDN Rising Star' Breizh Sky (Fr) (Pedro The Great) for a career high in the seven-furlong contest for juveniles. She had opened up with a July 17 debut seventh, behind the 'TDN Rising Star' display of Alia's Rose (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), over seven furlongs at Chantilly and had changed owners since notching her breakthrough score last time. The 19-5 chance lurched from the traps and raced off the pace, adrift of the clear leader, in fourth through halfway. Inching closer in the straight, she came under pressure with 300 metres remaining and kept on relentlessly under a late drive to nail Listed Prix Roland de Chambure victor Breizh Sky by a short head on the line.

“She didn't run as I expected first time out and that is why she came back soon after to show her true potential,” explained trainer Christopher Head. “She has changed ownership since that win and I was keen to prove to her new owners they had made a good investment. We took a gamble by pitching her into Group 3 company straight after winning her maiden. I am delighted, but not very keen to run her over further at this stage. The [G1 Prix Jean-Luc] Lagardere is an option, but we shall wait and see how she comes out of this before discussing plans with the owners.”

Reflecting on the performance of Breizh Sky, trainer Alessandro Botti added, “He travelled well, but was left in front too soon and idled once he got there. He is still immature, no doubt, and I was praying for the post to come in time, but it didn't. It's frustrating, but maybe the race will give him more experience and we will have nothing to lose by bringing him back in the Lagardere.”

Tigrais, who hails from the family of multiple Group 1 winner Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}), is the only reported foal out of Maharana (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}), herself an unraced half-sister to Listed Prix Francois Boutin runner-up Mangusto (Fr) (Roderic O'Connor). Her second dam, Listed Prix Zeddaan runner-up Mantadive (Fr) (Okawango), is the leading performer out of Missanticia (Sicyos), herself a half-sister to G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois heroine Miss Satamixa (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) and Listed Prix Melisande victrix Miss d'Ouilly (Fr) (Bikala {Ire}). The latter is the dam of five black-type performers headed by GIII Cardinal H. winner Miss Caerleona (Fr) (Caerleon).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX LA ROCHETTE-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-4, 2yo, 7fT, 1:20.03 (NSR), g/s.
1–TIGRAIS (FR), 122, f, 2, by Outstrip (GB)
1st Dam: Maharana (Fr), by Iffraaj (GB)
2nd Dam: Mantadive (Fr), by Okawango
3rd Dam: Missanticia (Fr), by Sicyos
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-OTI Management Pty Ltd & Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Christophe Brun (FR); T-Christopher Head; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, €53,500. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Breizh Sky (Fr), 126 c, 2, Pedro The Great–Anna Danse (Fr), by Anabaa. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€14,000 RNA Ylg '21 ARAUG). O-Alain Jathiere, Louis Baudron, Alessandro Botti, Giuseppe Botti & Ecurie Elag; B-Haras des Evees, Daniel Cherdo & Mme Claudie Cherdo (FR); T-Alessandro & Giuseppe Botti. €16,000.
3–Gamestop (Ire), 126, c, 2, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Your Game (Fr), by Montjeu (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (IRE); T-Christophe Ferland. €12,000.
Margins: SHD, 2HF, 2HF. Odds: 3.80, 0.80, 3.70.
Also Ran: Gain It (GB), Salazar (Fr). Scratched: Bolshkinov (Fr). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Big Guns Out For Sunday Fayre

German bloodstock is rightly back in the spotlight on Sunday, with the highly-anticipated clash between Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) the key race of the day despite the presence of the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. At this stage, a repeat win in the Arc for Gestut Auenquelle's star of the nation remains a distinct possibility even allowing for the presence of Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who may not even be there if the ground goes testing. Apart from a surprising flop on his reintroduction when sixth in the 11-furlong G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft here May 29, the 5-year-old's trajectory in 2022 has followed a perfect curve. A reassuringly dynamic display followed in Hamburg's G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis July 2 and his solid second in Ascot's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. put him firmly back in the picture three weeks later.

Before Torquator Tasso completed the Grosser Preis von Baden-Arc double 12 months ago, it had been done in 2011 by Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) and 20 years ago by Marienbard (Ire) (Caerleon). Frankie Dettori was winning one of his three Grosser Preis von Badens at the time and he is deputising for the captive Rene Piechulek and his output will be interesting on a horse that takes some knowing as his seasonal debut attests. “The horse is in a beautiful situation, the trainer said the last piece of work he has done was very good and he was in good shape,” part-owner Peter-Michael Endres explained. “The ground is soft, but we expect a little more rain on Saturday so maybe it will be softer. He is not dependent on soft ground, he is not dependent on any ground, you saw at Ascot that he ran a very good race and it was firm. It's a race with only four other horses and we don't know how it will go, but we are in a good mood.”

 

Sammarco Primed

   Gestut Park Wiedingen's G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis winner Sammarco has youthful exuberance on his side and his latest performance in Munich's 10-furlong showcase at the end of July suggests he is going forward. An Arc supplementary hangs on his performance here, but Germany is tantalisingly close to having more than one joker to play in four weeks' time. “His form is very good and he had a canter Friday morning and he was great,” trainer Peter Schiergen said of the Classic hero. “The ground is good for him, he never has a problem with the ground and it will be quite slow on Sunday which will be fine.”

 

Can Coroebus Get Back On Track?

At ParisLongchamp, Godolphin's 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace S. hero Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) looks to put a reversal of fortunes behind him having finished fifth in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville Aug. 14. Asked a big question by William Buick there, he ran the fastest split of the field but after trying to run down every rival understandably tired out of contention. This will be a test of his mettle as well as his ability, but if he can find cover early from stall five it may be that this turning mile will help him. “We were obviously disappointed with that performance, but are putting a line through it,” Charlie Appleby said. “Our plan was to drop in, but I don't think William wanted to be quite so detached. They covered [the last] five furlongs in under a minute. Two down, I'd have said we were an odds-on shot, but whether he used up too much getting into that position, I don't know. That's what I put it down to. He's pleased me since, came out of the race fine and the ground will be better, it was like a road the last day. For a horse of his stature, it wouldn't have suited.”

 

What Does The Revenant Have Left In The Locker?

It is not often that The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is spotted, but that has always been the case with the soft-ground specialist the master of scant sightings. Those who believed it was convenient to write off Al Asayl France's veteran following two defeats in the spring of his 2021 campaign were made to retract as he reappeared at his favourite time of year to be a narrow second to Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in this track's G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein and a fourth defending his G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. title in October. Easy wins in Saint-Cloud's Listed Prix Altipan Mar. 10 and G3 Prix Edmond Blanc Apr. 2 prior to his customary summer holiday suggest he retains at least most of his ability and that may be enough in a renewal lacking serious strength.

 

Breizh Sky Heads Support Cast

ParisLongchamp's card begins with the seven-furlong G3 Prix la Rochette, with Alain Jathiere's colours sported by the July 10 Listed Prix Roland de Chambure-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Breizh Sky (Fr) (Pedro The Great) and Aug. 14 G3 Prix Francois Boutin runner-up Bolshkinov (Fr) (Camacho {GB}). Le Haras De La Gousserie and Guy Pariente's G1 Champion S. hero Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) stages his return from a break in the 10-furlong G3 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte, while Abdulla Al Mansoori's 'TDN Rising Star' West Wind Blows (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) bids to continue the purple patch of the Simon and Ed Crisford stable in the G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange also over that trip.

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Protectionist’s Amazing Grace Slays T Von Zastrow Stutenpreis Rivals

Dr Christoph Berglar's homebred 4-year-old distaffer Amazing Grace (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}–Amabelle {Ger}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who finished 3/4-of-a-length behind G1 Deutsches Derby hero Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) when second in July's G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis at Munich in her latest start, is set to dine at the top table again after annexing Saturday's G2 T Von Zastrow Stutenpreis at Baden-Baden. Connections immediately nominated both G1 Preis von Europa and GI E. P. Taylor S. as possible destinations after she defeated stablemate India (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in a hot renewal of the 12-furlong feature. Last term's G2 Diana Trial victrix, who also snagged June's Listed 170 Jahre Hamburger Renn-Club at Hamburg, was steadied to race off a moderate tempo in fifth passing the judge first time. Urged forward off the home turn, the 5-2 second favourite was ridden to go third passing the furlong marker and stayed on strongly to assert superiority by 1 1/2 lengths nearing the line.

“To finish first and second is a dream result,” trainer Waldemar Hickst to GaloppOnline. “I actually had more of a gut feeling for India because she had improved from race to race, but it was a great ride from Olivier Peslier and I'm extremely satisfied. I was concerned about the distance and the [good-to-] soft ground, but she had no problems with it. Amazing Grace could now head to Canada for the [GI] E. P. Taylor S., while India has an entry for a Group race in Paris on Arc Day.” The winning owner's racing manager Ronald Rauscher added, “We hoped Amazing Grace would be competitive, but the pace wasn't excessively high. She won very convincingly and we now have the E. P. Taylor S. in the back of our minds. Another possibility is the [G1] Preis von Europa in Cologne.”

Pedigree Notes

Amazing Grace is one of two black-type and two group winners for her G1 Melbourne Cup-winning sire. Out of a German listed winning-daughter of Danehill Dancer (Ire), Amazing Grace is one of two winners from three to race for her dam. Amabelle has the unraced juvenile full-brother to the winner in Astaire (Ire), a yearling filly by Gleneagles (Ire) and a foal of this year, once again by Protectionist.

Antonym (Bahri), the second dam of Amazing Grace, also struck at listed level in Germany, while she, in turn, is out of the dual French Group 2 winner Annaba (Ire) (In The Wings {GB}). This is the extended family of G3 Park Hill S. heroine Anna Of Saxony (GB) (Ela-Mana-Mou {Ire}), as well as of Accessories (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), the dam of a quartet of group winners led by Group 1 winners and sires Epaulette (Aus) (Commands {Aus}) and Helmet (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}).

Saturday, Baden-Baden, Germany
T VON ZASTROW STUTENPREIS-G2, €70,000, Baden-Baden, 9-3, 3yo/up, f/m, 12fT, 2:36.11, g/s.
1–AMAZING GRACE (GER), 131, f, 4, by Protectionist (Ger)
1st Dam: Amabelle (Ger), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Antonym, by Bahri
3rd Dam: Annaba (Ire), by In The Wings (GB)
O/B-Dr Christoph Berglar (GER); T-Waldemar Hickst; J-Olivier Peslier. €40,000. Lifetime Record: MGSP-Fr & GSP-Ity, 14-4-4-4, €196,400. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–India (Ger), 131, f, 4, Adlerflug (Ger)–Ivory Coast (Fr), by Peintre Celebre. O-Gestut Ittlingen; B-Gestut Hof Ittlingen (GER); T-Waldemar Hickst. €15,500.
3–Atomic Blonde (Ger), 123, f, 3, The Grey Gatsby (Ire)–Alwina (Ger), by Areion (Ger). (€75,000 RNA Ylg '19 BBAGO). O/B-Gestut Karlshof (GER); T-Henk Grewe. €8,000.
Margins: 1HF, 3/4, 2. Odds: 2.50, 1.60, 13.30.
Also Ran: Narmada (Ger), Well Disposed (Ire), Nachtrose (Ire). Scratched: Salve Le Meer (Ger). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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